Prisons (Absconders)

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners absconded from open prisons in each of the last three years: how many have been returned to prison; and how many of the absconders were convicted of drug offences.

Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.

Letter from Derek Lewis to Mr. Alan Williams, dated 16 March 1995:676WThe Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking how many prisoners absconded from open prisons in each of the last three years; how many have been returned to prison; and how many of the absconders were convicted of drug offences.The information requested is given in the following table.

Year

Number of absconders

Number of absconders convicted of drug offences

1992

1,427

44

1993

1,384

41

1994

1,300

51

The number of absconders who are either recaptured by the police or who surrender to the prison is not recorded centrally.